LEGG ACCEPTS NEW BROADCASTING JOB

It is with somewhat mixed emotions that Mike Legg prepares to leave Cape Girardeau after seven years as the primary radio voice of Southeast Missouri State University football and basketball.

Legg will take over the radio play-by-play duties for Western Kentucky University football and basketball this fall. He will also serve as director of broadcasting and sales on the Western Kentucky athletics staff.

"The thing that always makes it difficult to leave is all the people you've encountered along the way," said Legg, who will begin his duties in Bowling Green, Ky., Monday. "I've been fortunate in the seven years I've been in Cape to have met an awful lot of wonderful people and to leave that is difficult. I'll miss all the good friends I've made.

"But this is the type of opportunity I can see as being the perfect fit for me at this time in my life. It's a great career opportunity for me."

Legg, 30, has been a play-by-play man for 11 years. He started his professional career at WVJC radio in Mount Carmel, Ill., announcing games for Wabash Valley Junior College.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a native of Fairfield, Ill., Legg took over the radio play-by-play duties at Southeast in November, 1994, and, in his position as director of sports operations for the Zimmer Radio Group's operations in Cape Girardeau, oversaw all aspects of sports programming for that organization's five area stations.

Legg said one of the highlights of his seven years covering the Indians was the basketball team's run to its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament berth two seasons ago.

"It wasn't just being at the NCAA Tournament, but the whole process of that season," he said. "The team just had a special feel. You just had the impression that team could do something."

Legg acknowledged that he is joining the Western Kentucky athletic family at a strong time. The Hilltoppers football team is ranked among the best in NCAA Division I-AA and the basketball squad is coming off an NCAA tourney appearance.

"It's an exciting time for Western Kentucky athletics, which has me excited," said Legg, whose last day on the air in Cape Girardeau will be today.

Erik Sean, who teamed with Legg on Southeast football and basketball broadcasts last year, will move into the play-by-play role for both sports. Sean did the football play-by-play last year and served as the color analyst for basketball.

"I've been in radio since 1994 and of all the people I've worked with I have never respected anybody more than I do Mike," said Sean. "His integrity, his work ethic are second to none. I've learned a ton about how to be a professional and how to do this job from Mike."